Effect of medium- and long-chain triglyceride supplementation on small newborn-pig survival

The pre-weaning survival of 508 piglets was studied with a categorical survival analysis, evaluating the effect of medium-long-chain triglyceride (MCT-LCT) supplementation on small newborn pigs, and determining additional risk factors. Half of the 98 piglets born with birth weight (BW) < 1250 g received 1.95 g of MCT-LCT each 24 h during the first 3 days of life, and their death hazard was reduced 1.9-fold in relation with small unsupplemented siblings. The death hazard ratio (HR) of supplemented animals compared to 410 heavier littermates was not different. However, the HR for newborn pigs that were small in relation with their siblings was 2.8, and the HR for litters with >12 piglets born alive was 4.5. There was variation across months, and also piglets from primiparous sows had increased hazard of death (HR = 4.0).